From the Mountains come Sounds of Joy!  Isaiah 55:12 is the foundation of our theme “From the Mountains Come Sounds of Joy!” You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. You are invited to attend the 33rd Biennial South Wisconsin District LWML Convention on June 18 & 19, 2010 at the Wyndham Milwaukee Airport & Convention Center. This is your chance to embrace the motto of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and Serve the Lord with gladness! This convention is for all ladies who are interested in advancing God’s kingdom through mission work. These two days will be filled with worship, servant opportunities, singing, Bible study, opportunities to grow your faith intentionally and share your faith enthusiastically, and even a mission walk through the Bible. Mike Tanney, seminary student and former missionary, will be our Keynote speaker. Cynthia Khan from POBLO (People of the Book Lutheran Outreach) will share her experiences of working with ethnic ministries. Also, voting delegates at the convention have important business to complete: mission grants will be selected, a pastoral counselor will be chosen, and several district officers will be elected. This is your opportunity to see the LWML in action.

Register now!

 District Mites Update.  

District goal for the 2008-2010 biennium:  $195,000. 

Needed per month: $195,000.00 divided by 24 Months = $8,125.00

Needed to date: $8,125.00 times 19 months = $154,375.00

Used toward mite goal: Mites, Memorials/Celebrations, Selle Interest

Shortage to date: ($5,902.15)

Needed per month for the next 4 months: $9,600.54

Two Society Activity Ideas.  Are you looking for an activity that your zone or society could do as a field trip or servant event? Here are two ideas that are happening in the Milwaukee area. Both are happening in the former Pilgrim Lutheran School building, now known as our Ministry Center. 

Good News - a pick-up stop has been added in Platteville. 

Bus Trip to Mission Central! Thirty-two people have signed up for the bus trip to Mission Central in Iowa; however there is still room for you!  We will travel on Thursday, April 29 to Denison, Iowa, where we will stay at the Super 8 Motel.  An extended breakfast including cereal, waffles, juice, etc. each morning will be included.

On Friday, April 30, we will spend most of the day at Mission Central.  Missionary Gary will give us the grand tour.  He indicates that they will have a special day for us and they will have some real surprises for us!  He will do his best to schedule a Missionary Family to visit with us and says we will be so surprised at what they will have for us.  They will also provide us with a big "farm meal" at noon at no charge to us. It will be a day everyone will long, long, long remember.

On Saturday, May 1, we will visit the Orphan Grain Train headquarters in Norfolk, Nebraska. They will have a special servant event planned for us. 

Pick-ups are scheduled for Sheboygan, Milwaukee, Madison and Platteville.

Sunday, May 2, will begin with an 8:30 a.m. worship service in the barn at Mission Central after which we will head for home. 

Dress is CASUAL for all events. We will schedule some fun things for the bus intermingled with rest stops and lunch breaks.

Registration forms are available through the Mission Trips page, left. Seating is limited and registrations are due APRIL 1.

You may not be accustomed to visiting You Tube, but try following this link.  LCMS WM has compiled videos of first-hand accounts of how our church and others are reaching out in Haiti.

LCMS World Mission Videos

LWML GRANT GIVEN TO LIGHT OF CHRIST CHINESE LUTHERAN MISSION.  The Missouri District of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod began the Light of Christ Chinese Lutheran mission program in 2000. Because of the large Asian population living in Olivette (St. Louis County), Missouri, and adjoining communities, the Light of Christ Chinese Mission has been established in the facilities of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Olivette. The primary focus of the mission is to reach, teach, and baptize those who do not know Jesus as their Savior.

The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) voted at the Portland LWML Convention in June 2009 to grant $75,000 to help support the work of Rev. Dr. Paul Shaw and the Light of Christ Chinese Lutheran Mission as they reach out to Asian community. The LWML rejoices that the full amount of this grant has been paid.

LWML President Janice Wendorf and LWML Public Relations Director Edie Norris, were privileged to worship at the Light of Christ Mission on Sunday, January 31, 2010. During the visit to the mission, there was the opportunity to tour the facility and observe many of the classes offered. After worship and a time of fellowship, President Wendorf shared, “Rev. Paul and Becky Shaw have worked tirelessly in sharing the gospel with the Asian community in the greater St. Louis area. The LWML is pleased to partner with them as they continue this essential work. The importance of the funding of this LWML grant is reaffirmed by the knowledge that many who come to the mission for only a short time while in the United States, will return to China and tell others about their Savior. Many will stay and carry on the work of spreading the Good News in their community.”

Light of Christ serves over 140 people on a typical Sunday. Dozens more are served through parenting and citizenship classes, health fairs, and other bridges to the Chinese community. Sunday church services are conducted in the Mandarin Chinese language with an English translator for young children and for English-speaking people who attend.

The Winter 2010 Issue of Christian Life Newsletter is available for download in Publications.  Included is information and registration form for District Convention, an article on motivating and encouraging others, and more!

Linda Christensen, VP of Human Care and Grants, reports that she has been in contact with a representative of Trinity/Hope Church in Haiti.  The schools will be back running again as of Monday, February 1st.  Praise God. The school we are supporting with Grant #9  is First Lutheran in Les Cayes (le Ki) . It was not damaged and the government is allowing the children back to school on February 1. Our help cannot come at a better time. God certainly knows what He is doing.

Three Mission Grants Funded.  As the 2008-2010 biennium nears the end, we report that Mission Grants 7, 8, and 9 have been fully funded. It is awesome how the Lord uses these mites of our South Wisconsin District to work in so many ways to share the Good News.

Grant #7 – Bibles for Inner City Milwaukee Outreach - $5,000. This grant will enable the members of Mission of Christ Lutheran Church to purchase Bibles and Christian literature to distribute to 1000 children and families in this diverse ethnic population located in the inner city of Milwaukee.

Grant #8 – Cistern for Lutheran Church, Chiquimula, Guatemala - $1,098. This grant will be used to construct a cistern to provide clean fresh water for the church, under construction, and the parsonage. The water supply is not stable, often only available during the night. About 70 children are being served in pre-school and after school programs in this small rural church. Rev. Tiburcio Giron and his wife Carmelina have been ministering to the people of Chiquimula for about 8 years, working with the poorest of the poor, holding services mainly in their rented home. The congregation has been saving for many years to build the church now under construction.

Grant #9 – Trinity/Hope Hot Lunch for Haitian Schools - $5,000. The goal of this grant is to more adequately meet the physical needs of the hungry children in our Hatian Lutheran Schools. It is hoped that they will be healthier, have more energy and be more receptive to the Word of the Lord, by receiving a daily hot lunch in the school setting. By demonstrating this physical, caring concern for these children, it is hoped that this will be one way of witnessing and sharing the love of Christ. We pray that this is a way for the Holy Spirit to work on the hearts of the people to discredit the Voodoo teaching that God is unapproachable and non-responsive to Haitans. In the wake of the recent trauma with earthquakes, this is quite timely.

POWER-FILLED JOYFUL WITNESS, the 2010 Spring Rally Bible Study, is available now for download in Publications. 

Sheboygan County Chaplaincy Ministry.  If you haven't seen the Chaplaincy DVD at your church or you don't know exactly what this ministry is all about, Pastor Tom would be very happy to come, visit and talk with you.

"Beautiful Feet" is the theme of the 2010 LWML Prayer Service authored by Reverend Philip Esala.  The theme is based on one of the 2009 Portland LWML Convention verses — How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:7

The 2010 LWML Prayer Service is available as a free download from the LWML Website at www.lwml.org

The Prayer Service was created to reinforce the objectives from the LWML 2009 Portland Convention:

• Worship God the Maker of all things,
• Trust in the Lord who daily meets your needs,
• Declare God’s peace and provision through tangible acts of mercy and grace, and
• Share the Good News of Jesus in everyday situations.

 Divided into four parts, the Prayer Service includes readings, prayer time, recommended songs, and suggestions for advanced preparations that will enhance the worship of those attending the service.

The Reverend Philip Esala authored this service to provide encouragement to spend time in prayer, look for opportunities to share the good news of Jesus with people in local communities in everyday situations, and to proclaim the peace only Christ provides as He brings us salvation through Him.

Reverend Esala serves as Senior Pastor of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Kettering, Ohio. He attended Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, while working as attorney for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Foundation and as Assistant States Attorney in Illinois. Pastor Phil and his wife Deb are blessed to be the parents of four children.

Other archived Prayer Services are also available at www.lwml.org

Are you responsible for ordering the Quarterly for your society?  Orders are due March 21.  You may use the order form available in Publications.  Your subscription covers all of these publications:  Quarterly; Mission Lamp and Christian Life News.  Consider ordering a few extra subscriptions so that you can make a few Quarterlies available to the women of your congregation. 

From The Mountains Come Sounds of Joy!  LWML ladies from all corners of the South Wisconsin District will assemble at the 33rd biennial convention on June 18 & 19, 2010. All activities will be centered around our theme, “From the Mountains Come Sounds of Joy!” and will focus on Isaiah 55:12, "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."

The convention will be held at the Wyndham Milwaukee Airport. Mike Tanney, LCMS Seminary Student with missionary experience, will be our featured speaker. Cynthia Khan from POBLO, People of the Book Lutheran Outreach will relate her experiences of mission work with ethnic ministries in the US.

There is significant business for the voting delegates to attend to those two days. They will decide which mission grants to support, select several ladies who will act as new vice presidents, and choose a pastor to serve as counselor. However, everyone who attends the 2010 convention will have the opportunity to participate in servant events, worship, enjoy fellowship, listen to speakers, view exhibits, and add their voices to the “Sounds of Joy” made by so many people gathered to praise our Lord. Most importantly, participants will learn more about what LWML does and how we can each contribute our time and talents to achieve the goals of LWML.

 
Look in these places for more 2010 LWML Convention Information:

• Mission Lamp
• Christian Life Newsletter
• Your LWML Society

Financial assistance is available for women wishing to attend District events, in the form of TLC (The Love of Christ) scholarships.  The deadline to apply for a scholarship to the District Convention being held June 18 and 19th is March 31.  Follow the link for more information.

Female Churchworker Scholarships Available.  Utilizing the proceeds from its Female Churchworker Scholarship Fund, the SWD LWML each year gives several scholarships to women who are enrolled at LCMS colleges and universities and studying to become full-time churchworkers (teachers, DCEs, deaconesses or lay ministers - any position available through the LCMS Board of Assignments).  Applications must be postmarked by April 30 for the 2010-2011 school year. 

LWML GIVEN “PARTNERS’ AWARD."  The Lutheran Women‘s Missionary League (LWML) was presented the "Ablaze! Partners‘ Award" by LCMS World Mission on November 18, 2009, at their annual Mission Partners Banquet. The award is annually given to a national or international partner of LCMS World Mission that demonstrates a heart for reaching the lost with the Gospel by pursuing in an exemplary way the goals of Ablaze! in its daily ministry activities. LWML President Janice Wendorf accepted the award on behalf of the organization.

 
In his presentation of the award, Scott Snow, National Director of Outreach for LCMS World Mission, said the following: "This year‘s [2009] Ablaze! Partners‘ Award is given to a partner organization whose members throughout the years have worked and saved and set aside a 'little here and a little there,' contributing mightily and generously so that millions and millions of dollars could support the work of Gospel outreach in their own communities and neighborhoods, in this country and in countries all across the globe. Not only have these women of faith given financially – but they have given themselves individually to plant 'mustard seeds‘ of faith through their everyday witness in their everyday lives. The Lutheran Women‘s Missionary League is an organization whose very name is synonymous with Gospel outreach!

 
LWML President Wendorf shares: "What an honor it was for me to represent LWML and to receive this prestigious award on behalf of all Lutheran Women in Mission who have been part of LWML over the years! This award is a powerful witness to the impact of the LWML throughout the church. It was a special privilege and joy to be joined in accepting this award by former LWML presidents Betty Duda, Gloria Edwards, Virginia Von Seggern and Linda Reiser. To God alone be the glory and praise!"

Praise the Lord - Grant #6 has been paid!  Shown in the photograph below is Joyce Buehrens, Mission Grants chairman, presenting our check to Dr. Don W. Johnson, the executive director of LAMP.  Grant #6 was $20,000 to recruit Alaska native church workers for LAMP-USA.

LWML PARLIAMENTARIAN ELECTED MAYOR.  Lutheran Women’s Missionary League Parliamentarian Barbara Volk has been elected mayor of Hendersonville, North Carolina with a 66% vote against two opponents. Barbara has a long history with the LWML, most recently serving on national LWML as Recording Secretary and Planner. As LWML Parliamentarian, Ms. Volk also assists the LWML Structure Committee with their body of work.
Mayor-Elect Volk shares the following: “I had many people working with me and helping me and a great number of them were from my church family. I thank God for them and their support in money, volunteer time, and prayers.”

 
“The city of Hendersonville is getting a fine Christian woman as mayor,” LWML President Janice Wendorf states. “May God’s love shine through her in this avenue of public service!”

 
Congratulations are extended to Barbara Volk, a faithful Lutheran Woman in Mission. May God bless her endeavors to His glory and to the benefit of Hendersonville, North Carolina.

SWD Grant #5 has been paid!  Pictured below is President Jan Dankwardt presenting the check to Janice Ruge, from the Braille project at Workshop 100 in Sheboygan.  Grant #5 is $6,000 to supply God's word by means of 1,714 plus volumes of Braille absolutely free.

Plan to Attend!

 Upcoming South Wisconsin District
LWML Events!

Mark your calendars for Christian fellowship, spiritual uplifts, personal growth and service.

 2010 Young Women's Retreat- February 5 & 6, 2010; The Lodge at Geneva Ridge, Lake Geneva. 

2010 SWD Convention - From the Mountains Come Sounds of Joy!  June 18 and 19, 2010; Wyndham Milwaukee Airport & Convention Center. 

Zone Rallies

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